A: The pour is amber in color with a finger or so of off-white head that fades quickly into a thin layer of foam.

S: Quite bready but there's a lot of toffee and caramel here as well. Some mild spice notes along with a touch of chocolate. Might be some dark fruit notes in there as well.

T: Seems to have a metallic flavor which is not very enjoyable. Luckily, some good chocolate and bread on the finish. A mild spice and some brown sugar. As I drink this, the metal actually becomes more and more pronounced.

M: The body is medium and the carbonation is sort of lacing here.

D: Pretty disappointing, but I have to say, I'm not entirely surprised. I've only really enjoyed a couple of Allagash beers, and this is not one of them. (734 characters)

Pours a deep brown with some reddish tints with a light head that is gone in a flash.The aroma really sweet and slightly nutty with some alcohol notes.Taste is is sweet with some roasted nut flavors with a light hooy note not in the background.A really drinkable beer for the style I have to say,a decent brew for the style but there are better for sure out there. (364 characters)

Appearance  This one showed a sporting head that went down rather quickly as most Dubbel heads seem to do. The body was dark for the style though and mysteriously murky.

Smell  The malt base here is very rich. You can pick up the strong Belgian yeast even when its refrigerator cold. The sweet part of the nose is like brown or table sugar with lots of chocolate.

Taste  Yes, this is a very dark and yeasty Dubbel. The dark chocolate flavor of the malts is very well done. The yeast steps back a bit from the nose but is still there. The sweets are even with the malts. They are very table sugary and granular. The only fruit I can readily identify is the banana.

Mouthfeel  This is in between medium and full-bodied with some wonderful carbonation and a lasting bitterness at the finish.

Drinkability  This is one of the better American efforts that Ive had of the style. It lacked complexity for sure like a lot of the other reviews pointed out, but overall it was far superior to some of the half-witted hoppy efforts that Ive had the displeasure of trying from the US over the years. Allagash can be proud of this one. (1,150 characters)

Hazy light brown with a thin lame head that does manage to last a bit. Smells sweet like candied caramel sugary frozen mixed berries. A touch of earth, a hint of nut, and a pinch of wood come into play too. Watery front that gets a little better as it warms. Coffee and toffee grow in the flavor aspect of things too. ABV is well hidden, this comes across as sweet and light, not strong. I am disappointed but utterly. This does not compare to any of the great or even good Belgians. Nice attempt but lacking body and complexity. I want more, more nose, more head, and definitely more body. (590 characters)

A: Brownish-amber in color; more amber emerges when held to light. Wild, speedy, linear carbonation bubbles stand out to my eye. A 1/2 finger head resulting from a fairly light pour retains well. The lacing is great- like the waters of the ocean stirred by a terrible tempest. Also, it is sooo sticky.

S: A complex, sweet malt bill greets my nose. Two scents that stand out the most are brown sugar and cappuccino. Hiding behind those aromas are vanilla, caramel, plum, and fig. This is a decently big and quite pleasant aroma. I would use this as an air freshener.

T: There is a spiciness to the taste that I did not detect in the smell. little pepper and coriander at the beginning of the ship support the sweet malts. Like the smell, the brown sugar and cappuccino flavors are most prevalent. There is not much complexity in the flavor of this beer, but it is a pleasant dubbel and it does have a nice dry, earthy hop finish that washes the sweetness of the malts off of my palate.

M: Fairly creamy, but just a bit on the thin and watery side for me. All of the surfaces of my palate are engaged, but the MF just seems to be missing a tangible ummph.

D: This is a nicely drinkable brew. It is not the most complex dubbel out there, but it is a pleasant sipper with a reasonable price tag. (1,332 characters)

It pours a dark brown with a thick, foamy head. The aroma yields an earthy, yeasty smell. It has a strong malt taste with raisin and date tones, without a great deal of sweetness, but a slight hint of sour. The tartness of the alcohol is also apparent from a deep sniff. Not very hoppy nor bitter, but a thick mouthfeel lingers on the tongue and the back of the throat. Nice drinkability if you don't mind the yeast coating your tongue. It goes very well with Mediterranean food. (479 characters)

I see the positive reviews, but this beer just did nothing whatsoever for me. In fact, I even kind of disliked it.

Not too much to say about the look or smell. It's dark amber, and smells sweet & very malty.

The taste was the big letdown. Just not much happening at all. Too sweetish, and surprisingly devoid of complexity. You take a sip, the taste quickly washes over your tongue, and just as quickly, the flavor is gone without a trace.

A disappointing, boring, and forgettable beer. I wont be having it again. (522 characters)

750ml bottle, Batch #77, poured into a goblet. A golden brown color with a thick, tan, sticky head. A sweet aroma, sometimes like molasses, sometimes like maple syrup. The taste was sweet and malty, and I think a bit of fig. The beer was a bit on the thin side, but nevertheless enjoyable. (289 characters)

T- Like the nose, pronounced fruit, toffee sweetness and spice. A bit of a sour, roasty, dry moderately bitter finish.

M- Fairly dry with moderate, prickly carbonation.

O- A decent dubbel, though far from my favorite. The yeast character comes off similar to Chimay Red but something about the finish seems muddled, with the combination of dry, roast and sour flavors. One of the better American version, but not as good as any of the true trappists. (562 characters)

Appearance: Deep dark amber brown with an ever so healthy off white lace that clings all over the glass.

Smell: Some medicinal, herbal and light coffee in the nose.

Taste: Rich with a well structured mouthfeel, very smooth and turning dry in the end. Hints of anise, juniper and liquorice ... herbal and phenolic. Hint of coffee with a candy sweetness in the middle ... long lasting dry finish with more hints of coffee and earth.

Notes: Allagash seems to be giving the Belgians a run for their money ... very drinkable for such a complex and big beer. An amazing American brewed dubbel. Great with grilled steaks, steamed asparagus and roasted new potatoes. (768 characters)

750ml dark brown bottle, "Batch 29", bottled on March 5, 2002, according to a prompt and courteous email reply from the folks at Allagash. Corked and caged presentation, served at about 55 degrees into a goblet. Clear ruby amber color when held to the light, and a bountiful tan head that stayed the distance. Lots of attractive lacing all over the goblet. Fruity nose at first, then a touch of orange blossom honey, spicy hops, and hints of apricot and pineapple. Complex and inviting nose! Mouthfeel is medium bodied, sufficient carbonation, and good hop balance to the many malts that cry out. The aftertaste, which is my only dislike, is distinctively of a port wine.

Dark fruits dominate the initial taste, as roasted Kona coffee, toffee, and some dry biscuit arrive to take part in the interesting mixture. Hops hold their ground throughout the long sipping exerience to lend a nice balance to all the malts. Alcohol warmness adds a pleasant touch halfway through the bottle, especially on a cold December night. I don't like the aftertaste which seems yeasty or astringent, and lasts forever. This was my only beverage, other than bottled water, the evening tasted and reviewed(Dec 11, 2003).

Overall, this is a very fine Belgian style dark ale with a complex, mostly malt, profile with a pleasant punch of sweet dried apricots and enough hops to bitter it out just about right. Excellent pairing for a sharp cheddar or quality blue cheese. Not an everyday ale, but one that I would love to keep on hand in the cellar. I bet these will be even better at 2.5 to 3 years from the bottling date. (1,606 characters)

Large bottle, caged and corked. I cannot believe the low review numbers for this brew...it pours a dark, murky and mysterious shade of darker brown, head is tan, pillowy, then a 1/8 inch of foam, and it leaves very nice lacing with some sheets of lace as well. Nose is raisins, yeast, rum, alcohol, varnish,horse blanket. This is a smooth as silk, big, large, complex,tasty, buttery double, that is pure taste, refinement and pleasue on the tongue. Notes of rum soaked raisins, vanilla, cookie dough, spices, cininimon toast, yeeha this stuff is tasty. go get some, NOW. (570 characters)

Pours a small one finger off white head. Reddish orange body.Smells of clove, banana, sweet malts, some fruity notes.Tastes of clove, some fruit banana and some others, sweet malts, finishes medium dry.Medium carbing, med body, drinks fairly easily, I'd take this one any day of the week. (291 characters)